Dental



(No Model.)

D. GENESE.

DENTAL APPLIANCE FOR MIXING AMALGAM.

No. 330,011. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID GENESE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DENTAL APPLIANCE FOR MIXING AMALGAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,011, dated November 10, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID GENEsE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dental Appliances for Mixing Amalgams, of which the following is a specification.

In the practice of dentistry it has been customary to mix the amalgams used for fillings and cappings, as small amounts were needed at a time, in the palm of the hand, using a finger of the other hand for the necessary mixing, kneading, and manipulation of the materials entering into the composition of the amalgam. While in this practice there is the advantage that the warmth of the hand and its plasticity aid in the thorough amalgamation of the material, there are serious disadvantages. For instance, the cuticle of the hand itself is stained and discolored when mercury is used. There is danger of some absorption thereof through the cuticle, while the amalgam is itself affected by the perspiration of the hand and by any impurities thereon, it being impossible, even with the greatest care and cleanliness, to entirely avoid perspiration or moisture, and even imperceptible impurity of the cuticle. These conditions cause black specks in the amalgam, and their effect on the amalgam is such that defective edges in the fillings or clippings are often the result.

The object therefore of my invention is to obviate these objections, furnishing a vessel in which the amalgam by me made and in the use of. which the advantages of mixing in the open hand shall be preserved, while the disadvantages attendant thereon shall be eliminated.

To this end I make a vessel for dental use of fine soft rubber, in which preparation no metallic substance or pigment has been used. Such a vessel is of a size adapted to readily lie in the palm of the hand or to be grasped by its sides between the fingers. Its base is oval longitudinally, so as to more nearly conform to the shape ofthe palm ofa slightly-bent hand. Its

bottom is made thin relatively to its other parts,so that the warmth of the hand may readily be communicated to the ingredients therein, and they be mixed on a plastic or elastic base. Its walls are relatively thick, and taper out- Wardly from their upper edge to the point of 'tecting the bottom 1.

union with the bottom, so as to impart a com-- parative degree of rigidity to the whole structure, and so preserve its general shape. Preferably the exterior of the side wall is carried a little distance below the bottom, so that the vessel rests on'this extension when set upon a table, and the elastic thin bottom is shielded against injury by abrasion, 8:0. This will be understood by reference to the drawings, in Whl0h Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved dental mortar; and Fig. 2, alongitudinal section thereof on line 00 m, Fig. 1.

Reference-numeral 1 indicates the bottom of the vessel made thin relatively to the sides 2 thereof, so as to be flexible and elastic. It is oval in form, and is surrounded by the side or wall 2, rising therefrom to a sufficient height. This wall 2 is considerably thicker than the bottom 1, and it tapers from its top edge, as shown at 3, so as to form a comparatively rigid support for the elastic bottom 1. Upon its exterior this wall 2 is carried down below the bottom 1, as seen at 4, forming a flange upon which the vessel rests when not in use, pro- Longitudinally the bottom 1 and wall 2 curve upwardly from the center, so that the vessel is oval or elliptical in shape longitudinally, so as to rest upon the palm of a slightly-bent hand. In use, therefore, if such vessel be laid in the palm of the hand, the warmth thereof will be communicated to l, and thence to the composition being manipulated therein, while the elastic bottom possesses the plasticity of the naked palm for the mixture of amalgams, while absorption thereby is prevented, as are also theincorporation into the amalgam of anyimpurities or the perspiration or moisture of the cuticle.

The manipulation of the ingredients in the mortar may be by a glass, agate, wedge-wood, or hard-rubber pestle, or by the finger protected and covered by a stall of thin soft rubber free from metallic materials or pigments.

After admixture of the ingredients and formation of the amalgam it may be washed and strained in the usual ways, and then left to dry in the mortar.

The pestle which I prefer to use is one made of either soft or hard rubber, one whose constituents or elements are not affected by the IOC 2. A dentalvessel for mixing amalgam,composed of rubber free from metallic ingredients, and having an elastic bottom and a surrounding side wall, said vessel being constructed to fit the palmof the hand, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID GENESE. WVitnesses:

G. ERETT REARDON, L. F. GRAFFLIN. 

